Branstad also said he would leverage his "longstanding relationship" with Chinese officials to gain Beijing's quicker approval of genetically modified US corn traits, believing that the "friendship and trust" could help bring down some of the barriers to increase bilateral agricultural trade.

Asked about Trump's "American Frist" trade policy, Branstad downplayed the potential trade disputes between the US and other countries, emphasizing that Trump was a deal-maker and businessman.

"Long time ago, he wrote a book called the Art of the Deal. He is a businessmen, and the best deal is a win-win situation," the governor said, referring to Trump's bestselling book first published in 1987.

"I'm hopeful at the end of the day that the president and his administration will work to improve bilateral agreements and in fact enhance our ability to export," he said. "So it's a matter of trying to negotiate the best deals for America, but in a way that's going to be a win-win for trading partners as well."

Branstad, 70, is the longest-serving governor in the US, who also has long nurtured a close relationship with China and has visited China multiple times. He served as the governor of Iowa in 1983-1999, and again since 2011. He was nominated by Trump to be the next US Ambassador to China in December 2016.